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Sheer curtains fit any decor style. They don`t have to be white or beige; trends in home decor fashions have brought textures, stripes, patterns and colors to sheer fabrics. They can be narrow silk sheer, or unusually wide man-made fiber fabrics. Even if you do not plan on making the curtains, it is helpful to know how to calculate yardage yourself to ensure you get the best value for your dollars and that there is neither too little nor too much fabric purchased for your project.

1

Decide the style of curtain that fits your decor. Typically, sheer curtains are either pinch-pleated for functioning curtains or gathered onto a rod for stationary curtains. Stationary curtains are not meant to be opened and closed.

2

Measure the width of the window and add the required stackback. Stackback is the amount of space the curtain occupies when in the open position. If you want the window totally exposed when the curtains are open, add 20 percent to the width of the window for the finished width of the curtain.

3

Choose the curtain rod and install it on the window or wall in the appropriate location. Install the rod according to the manufacturer's instructions.

4

Measure from the top of the curtain rod for gathered top curtains, or from the pin carrier for pleated curtains, to the desired length. The length of your curtains is determined by the design and your personal preferences. Typically, curtains that are stationary are made a bit longer than those that must open and close frequently. For example, the bottom of puddled curtains rests in a 'puddle' on the floor -- an elegant and often exotic look -- but one that is not as condusive to functioning drapery. Curtains that open and close frequently often terminate 1/2 inch above the floor.

5

Add 24 inches to the finished length for pleated curtains, and add 18 inches for a gathered-top curtain for the fabric cut length. These numbers represent 6 inches for a double hem in either curtain style, and 3 four-inch folds for heading in a pinch pleat curtain or 6 inches for the heading in a gathered curtain.

6

Decide on the fullness you need for the coverage you require. Typically, pinch-pleated sheer curtains are made with triple fullness; the fabric used is three times wider than the required finished curtain width. Light, airy, gathered-top sheers are typically two times fullness. More fabric means a more opaque curtain with three and a half times fullness considered the maximum and two times the minimum. The fullness is dependent on the fabric sheerness, the curtain design, your requirements and your personal preferences.

7

Multiply the finished width of the curtain by the fullness factor and divide the result by 36 for the number of yards of wide-width fabric required for the curtains. Wide-width fabric must be wider than the cut length of the curtains. It is used in one long horizontal piece; vertical seams are not necessary. For example, for a pinch-pleated curtain 120 inches wide with triple fullness, and 86 inches long, the fabric required is 10 yards of fabric at least 110 inches wide. (120 times 3 divided by 36.)

8

Multiply the finished width by the fullness factor and divide the result by the width of egular-width fabric. Multiply the result by the cut length and divide the result by 36 for the number of yards of fabric required. The fabric width in this instance is less than the cut length required. Long sections of fabric are joined with vertical seams to create the curtain panel. For example, for the same curtain but using 60-inch wide fabric, yards required is 18 1/3 yards. (120 times 3, divided by 60, times 110, divided by 36).

Things You Will Need

Tape measure

Curtain rod

Tools for rod installation, per the manufacturer's instructions

About the Author

Linda Erlam started writing educational manuals in 1979. She also writes a biweekly newspaper column, "Design Dilemmas," in the "Lakeshore News" and has been published in "Design and Drapery Pro" magazine. Erlam is a graduate of the Sheffield School of Interior Design and is a practicing interior decorator and drapery workroom operator.